Animal shelter fees might go up 8 percent to cover shortfall

Alexia Rosales, 20, of Anaheim gets a &#8220;kiss&#8221; from a female pit bull (A1317099, kennel 232) at OC Animal Care. Pet owners served by OC Animal Care might see their fees hiked by the end of summer as a way to avoid a slew of service cuts and keep the county shelter in Orange operating at its current standard of care and services. It is at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SANTA ANA – Pet owners served by OC Animal Care might see their fees hiked this summer to avoid a slew of service cuts and to keep the county shelter in Orange at its current standard of care and services.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 3-1, with Janet Nguyen voting no, to consider an 8 percent fee increase to cover a $625,000 shortfall in shelter operating costs.

County officials say the shortfall developed from higher personnel costs and increased expenses for goods and services such as gas, computer upgrades and pet food.

Supervisor Pat Bates abstained from the vote. Supervisors asked agency staff to bring back a fee increase plan for possible approval rather than cut services or increase the county’s general fund allocation to the agency. A final decision is expected in a few months when the fees are reviewed at a public meeting.

Bates said she abstained because the amount and type of fee increases would have to be determined at a future meeting to make up the difference in what the cities served by the shelter have agreed to contribute in additional payments. The contract cities have agreed to put in another $780,000.

Shelter Director Ryan Drabek in January had proposed an 8 percent fee increase as a way to head off the anticipated shortfall; staff will study how to execute this plan. OC Animal Care faces an overall shortfall of $1.4 million for the fiscal year starting in July.

The vote to increase fees was one of three options the board considered. Others were cutting services such as education outreach, shorter shelter hours and removing graveyard shift field service personnel; or taking the necessary money from the county’s general fund.

If the graveyard shift were cut, animal care responsibilities would fall to local law enforcement agencies.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer asked shelter staff to come back with a varied fee increase plan and to look at how closing the shelter on Mondays would affect services. Nguyen opposed fee increases and suggested pulling $400,000 from the county general fund. Nguyen said she didn’t want to see the animal care agency become another large agency like the Orange County Fire Authority.

“The taxpayers have paid enough,” she said. “We don’t want them to have to choose between a dog and a cat because of another $5 (fee) instead of buying a gallon of milk.”

The board also asked Drabek and his staff to consider what a future regional shelter could look like and how more cities might be added in the future to offset what are expected to be growing costs. Several cities have requested cost information in the past, Drabek said.

In the past five to 10 years, the OC shelter has established positive partnerships with local veterinarians, nonprofit rescue groups, animal advocates and the community as a way to scale back costs and operate more efficiently, Drabek said.

“We feel the best way to handle animal care issues is to go after the root causes of pet overpopulation,” Drabek said. “So, we focus on public education, spay/neuter programs, animal identification awareness and other programs that we believe have already had an effect on our overall intake, euthanasia and adoption numbers.”

Word about possible shelter cuts circulated over the weekend and on Monday in the animal rescue community and among shelter volunteers countywide. Eleven people from across the county spoke on behalf of Drabek and the improvements over the last four years at a shelter once known and shunned for its high euthanasia rates.

They pleaded with supervisors not to cut any of the services shelter staff had put up for consideration. Drabek also emphasized that the listed service reductions were not recommended but were the only possible cuts given state laws with which the animal care agency must comply.

“We have made great progress in our efforts to improve shelter conditions, educate and engage the Orange County community at large, reduce euthanasia, and increase placement of live animals. That would not have happened without your support,” said April Josephson, of Rancho Santa Margarita and chairwoman of OC Animal Care Community Outreach Committee.

Alexia Rosales, 20, of Anaheim gets a “kiss” from a female pit bull (A1317099, kennel 232) at OC Animal Care. Pet owners served by OC Animal Care might see their fees hiked by the end of summer as a way to avoid a slew of service cuts and keep the county shelter in Orange operating at its current standard of care and services. It is at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848 CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A male golden retriever, 4, (A1318635, kennel 233) enjoys some attention from Alexia Rosales, 20, of Anaheim at OC Animal Care. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rick Solis, 29, of Anaheim plays with a male pit bull (A1320052, kennel 242) at OC Animal Care. http://www.ocpetinfo.com/. It is located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Joan Bravo of Long Beach says hello to this male German shepherd, 7, (A1320183 kennel 248) at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mika, 1, (A1317970, kennel 261) is an owner surrender. The puppy was "too active" for her former family. She is at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ . located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sidney, 1, is a brown Cairn Terrier (A1315162, kennel 347) , from left, in the next cage Suki, 3, a chihuahua mix (A1309947, kennel 346) is up for adoption at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bosley, 3, (A1313676, kennel 344) will be neutered before you take him home. The male Cairn Terrier is at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bebe, 2, (A131972, kennel 329) is described by staff as a "sweet" Border Collie mix. The female came from a Spanish speaking home and is an owner surrender. She's at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Joan Bravo of Long Beach says hello to Ansel. This male German shepherd, 1, (A1314809, kennel 340) is at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
This Siberian Husky, 1, (A1317838, kennel 263) is at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ is located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A male golden retriever, 4, (A1318635, kennel 233) needs a home. The stray is at OC Animal Care, http://www.ocpetinfo.com/ . located at 561 The City Drive S., Orange, at the 22 Freeway. For more info call: 714 935-6848. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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